How to Recognize Skin Signs That Something is Wrong

The skin, that visible and delicate organ, gives us valuable clues about our internal health.. From hydration to stress, every line and blemish tells a story about our well-being.

In a recent intervention at La Mesa Caliente, Coco Marchrenowned expert in rejuvenation, revealed the secrets behind the signals that our skin sends usrevealing possible liver problems and the impacts of excessive mobile device use during sleep.

“The eyes are the mirror of our soul, but the skin is the mirror of our liver,” March states with conviction.

When we talk about the liver, it is such a grateful organ that it does not give us emergency signals until sometimes it is too late. “A person who does not have a healthy liver will begin to notice that the skin is less shiny, that there are spots, that it does not have a youthful state, but the good news is that there are solutions.”

Coco March

How to reduce the risk of skin cancer

Most skin cancers are caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays. (UV). UV rays come from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can cause damage to skin cells.

To reduce your risk of developing skin cancer, you can protect yourself from the sun's UV rays, and avoid artificial sources of UV exposuresuch as tanning beds and sun lamps.

Practice sun safety

It is important to protect yourself from UV rays all year round, not only during the summer. UV rays can affect you on cloudy, cool days, and are reflected from surfaces such as water, concrete, sand, and snow. In the continental United States, UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm during daylight saving time (9 am to 3 pm standard time).

The UV index predicts the intensity of UV rays every day. If the UV index is 3 or higher in your area, protect your skin from excessive sun exposure. The CDC recommends several ways to protect your skin when the UV index is 3 or higher:

  • Stay in the shade.
  • Dress in clothing that covers your arms and legs.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover your face, head, ears, and neck.
  • Wear sunglasses that cover the sides of your face and block both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) 15 or higher.

Avoid tanning indoors

Indoor tanning (using tanning beds, booths, or sunlamps to darken the skin) exposes users to high levels of UV rays. Over time, too much UV exposure can cause skin cancers, cataracts, and eye cancers.

Tanning does not indicate good health. When UV rays reach the inner layer of the skin, the skin produces more melanin. Melanin is the pigment that gives skin color. Melanin moves to the outer layers of the skin and becomes visible in the form of a tan. Any change in skin color after UV exposure (whether a tan or a burn) is a sign of injury, not health.

Indoor tanning:

  1. It exposes users to intense levels of UV rays, a known cause of cancer.
  2. Does not protect against sunburn. A “base tan” is actually a sign of damage to the skin.
  3. May cause serious injury. Burns and accidents caused by indoor tanning send more than 3,000 people a year to the emergency room.

(With information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

VIDEOS: